BABYMONSTER’s Explosive Performance on ‘Inkigayo’ Becomes a Viral Sensation
[OSEN=김나연 기자] When did ‘Inkigayo’ last catch your attention? Once a dominant force in the music industry, this terrestrial TV music ranking program has long seen its ratings plummet to what’s jokingly referred to as ‘national anthem-level’ viewership due to widespread disinterest. However, the show continues to gather attention based on the caliber and popularity of the idols who appear.
A prime example is YG’s new girl group, BABYMONSTER. Despite being just 10 days post-debut, their appearance on SBS’s ‘Inkigayo’ demonstrated their immense fandom strength. The performance video uploaded on the official SBS KPOP channel is swiftly nearing 5 million views within just five days and has already made its way into the trending videos, captivating global fans’ attention. The video has also amassed over 16,000 comments.
BABYMONSTER officially released their debut track ‘SHEESH’ just 10 days ago and has already set a record with 100 million views on the music video, marking the second-fastest achievement in K-pop girl group history, only after BLACKPINK. Since their debut after 2017, BABYMONSTER now holds the record for the ‘shortest time to reach this milestone.’ Last November, their pre-debut single ‘BATTER UP’ had set a precedent with a record (18 days), which BABYMONSTER has now surpassed by 8 days. Their formidable performance on ‘Inkigayo’ and the storm of positive comments that followed are a testament to their growing popularity.
This seven-member group released their first mini album ‘BABYMONS7ER’ on April 1. This album is notably their first official release as a complete group of seven, symbolizing the full lineup with the number ‘7’ in the album title, replacing the ‘T’ in MONSTER. Earlier, in November last year, they had showcased their talents with the digital single ‘BATTER UP’, but this was before AHYEON joined the group due to health issues. Now, with the release of ‘BABYMONS7ER’, the group has fully debuted in the global market.
Additionally, even the non-performance ballad track ‘Stuck In The Middle’ from their first mini-album has achieved 100 million views in just one month. Thus, BABYMONSTER has rapidly risen as a monster rookie, possessing three music videos that have crossed 100 million views in less than six months since their debut.
BABYMONSTER, created by YG Entertainment, which has previously brought to fame powerhouse groups like BIGBANG, 2NE1, WINNER, and BLACKPINK, is the latest girl group from the company, seven years after BLACKPINK’s debut. From the planning stages, this group has been a hot topic, referred to as “BLACKPINK’s little sisters.” As each member was revealed, the group ignited the internet. Comprised of four members from Japan and Thailand and three from Korea, BABYMONSTER is a truly international group targeting global markets, and the members are notably younger.
On April 1 at midnight, BABYMONSTER made a dazzling debut with ‘BABYMONS7ER’, achieving record-breaking sales. In just one week, they sold 401,287 copies, setting a new record for first-week sales of a debut album by a K-pop girl group. Their title track ‘SHEESH’ is well on its way to 100 million YouTube views, and the official channel’s subscriber count has rapidly exceeded 5 million as their debut activities increase.
Despite being newcomers, BABYMONSTER has quickly gained global recognition. English-speaking fans have remarked, “Even among today’s performances, this had the highest views,” “Finally a debut group that can really sing live,” “This is YG. Trust in their talent,” “Live performances are so stable even for rookies,” “Each member is incredibly talented; they’re like the Avengers,” and “Who would think these are rookies?”
Meanwhile, BABYMONSTER has also proven their international appeal by charting on the U.S. Billboard charts. On April 9, local time, the latest Billboard charts revealed that BABYMONSTER’s first mini-album title track ‘SHEESH’ debuted at number 87 on the Billboard Global 200 and at number 35 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S, setting a new high for their debut.
2024. 4. 13.
